District plans safety, repair projects

OKANOGAN  The Okanogan School District plans to whittle away at a number of safety and repair projects using money in its reserve fund.

The projects were re-prioritized and reduced from a list compiled last year before the district asked voters to approve a $1.15 million bond issue. The measure was turned down twice, in February and April 2013.

The school board decided to regroup and do some of the more pressing projects anyway. Others will be done as money becomes available.

“We will use money from our reserves, but not go below 5 percent,” Superintendent Richard Johnson told the board during its Oct. 23 meeting.

Under district policy, it keeps 5 percent of its budget amount in reserve in case of emergency, cash flow problems or an unexpected drop in student numbers.

As of Oct. 23, the district had 8.4 percent of the budget, or $927,624, in its reserve fund. If all the projects were done, at an estimated cost of nearly $290,000, the district would be left with about 6.3 percent in reserve. That’s about $143,416 above this year’s 5 percent reserve goal of $552,279.

“Because the project estimates are about two years old, there should still be enough money to get the projects completed, even if the actual costs are higher than the estimated costs, and keep within the district’s goal of 5 percent,” Johnson said.

• Learned the district received its 28th consecutive perfect bus inspection report. The state inspection recognition program started 28 year ago; Okanogan is the only district with a perfect record, Johnson said.

• Set regular board meetings for 6 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month. The board has been meeting the fourth Wednesday of the month.

• Set the next board meeting for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, in the district office, 115 Rose St. The regular Wednesday meeting date is the day before Thanksgiving.